Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-15

planned and so skllfully concealed their
plans would by this time have made good
their escape
1t was now long after nine o'clock, and
Lydia's carriage had arrived. All she could
EdosFzs to go back, 80 Sh6 Wrota 4 hurried
note to the head of the police department at
st. Malo, and another to the chief police Of
fetal at st. Brieux, stating clearly and con-
cisely all she knew about the matter; giving
descripfons of the stranger, the hunter,
aud the Princess herself, and setting forth
her own views of the matter.
These notes were Immediately dispatched
post-haste to both cities, while Lydia re-
turned home.
Passing once more through the village of
T., she found the place ablaze with excite
ment- Around the inn was gathered large
crowd Baudray, the landlord, saw Lydia's
carriage driving By, and ran ont toward it,
holding an9envelope in his ontstretched
saia he: ss y
''My little girl has a number of pet doves,
| which she always shuts up in the dove-cote
at night. She missed one this morning, and
thought it had been killed but a few mo-
ments ago she heard a tapping at hercham-
Der window, which looks over the roof of
the porch It was the lost Bahia futtering
at the window pane, and apparently ex-
hausted. This little note was fastened to
the bird. 1t is addressed to Chateau Dor.
l.. Lydia tore it open. 1tran thus:
ssAgreeable to our promise. we send the
| first message. Naturally, the Princess was
| somewhat alarmed at the outset, but has
| quite recovered from the shock, and, al
though failing to discover why she should be
held in durance vile, is reasonably happy
and perfectly well, as hearty meal she
has just completed, can testify. More
anon"
If not so worried about her friend, Lydia
| would have laughed outright The idea OF
purloining Princess, and afterwards send
| ing comforting notes in this chatty, conf
dental manner was extremely absurd and
| well-nigh incredible. However, here was
| the note, and no doubt Natalie was safe.
Lydia breathed more freely, and actually
began to almost enjoy the novelty of the
| situation. She felt inclined to lie on her
oars, as it were. and await the next .deyel-
opment in the case.
'Who could have stolen the pigeonl"
| asked she of Baudray. ''Who has gone
away from the inn!
ssMy only guests who have left are Mon
sieur Fairfax and Monsieur Oxford and his
valet. Monsieur Fairfax left two days ago,
| and sailed from Havre to America yester-
day. Monsieur Oxford and his valet left
last night, and after they had gone, my
| little one counted her birds and locked them
securely in the dove-cote. They were all
| right in number last night, and this morn
ing the door was still locked; but yet one
was gone"
The mystery began to deepen.
(Ah, clever Fairfax. Observing that an
| ordinary paddock secured the door of the
dove-cote, on the morning after the ball at
| the Warehouses, when he arose so early,
OF the lock, and found one that would I'M
| lock it. Driving through the village with
| Dick two nights afterward, he paused be-
| fore the inn, and requested Dick to hold the
reins moment. Richard, now having
| learned to acquiesce, did as he was told,
and asked no questions. Jean, the watch
| dog, was inclined to bark, but recognizing
Fairfax's voice, approached the latter, wag-
ging his tail propitiously. From capacious
coat pocket Fairfax produced a little basket,
| and, unlocking the door of the dove-cote,
| quickly seized the first inmate upon which
he could lay hands, and thrust it into the
| basket. Jean looked on with interest, i'm
agining it might prove meal for
| him. Fairfax flung him some tid-bit from
his pocket; the dog took it, and lay down
contentedly to eat it. Every one was asleep,
and the pair departed as they came-unob-
served)
Lydia drove toward the chateau once
more, and for the first time became aware
of the fact that she was extremely hungry,
having eaten no dinner.
Over a hastily prepared tea, she and
Madame <. discussed the situation, and
both came to the conclusion that there was
really nothing to be done.
Meanwhile, the surrounding gentry-who
had but just heard the news-from all
sides were beginning to flock towards the
chateau. The two ladies found themselves
holding an inpromptu soiree.
By virtue of his age and Natalie's friend
ship for him. the old Marquis was spokes-
man of the party, and, although there were
as many opinions as people present, he,
| after perusing the several notes, and learn
| ing every thing from Lydia, succeeded in
| convincing all assembled that nothing could
be done, and that Natalie would, undoubt-
edly, receive no harm.
The mystery surrounding the affair still
afforded ample topic for conversation. and
it was not until long after midnight that
the extemporaneous gathering was broken
up. -
What remained now was to place the
| matter in the hands of the detectives and
| to notify the parents of Natalie.
Il